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Tovey targets fresh start
ESPN Staff
July 14, 2012
The Dragons' Jason Tovey stretches the Scarlets' defence, Dragons v Scarlets, Anglo-Welsh Cup, Rodney Parade, Newport, Wales, February 6, 2011
Tovey endured a tough final season with the Dragons © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Jason Tovey

New recruit Jason Tovey is hoping his move to Cardiff Blues will reinvigorate his career after a tough final season with the Dragons.

The 23-year-old admitted he had gone "a bit stale" at Rodney Parade and is looking to relaunch his international ambitions with the Blues.

The uncapped fly-half was part of Wales' preliminary Rugby World Cup squad last autumn but failed to make any appearances in the warm-up games and did not make the final cut for New Zealand. A difficult season for the Dragons followed and he announced that he would be signing for Cardiff this season.

"I went a bit stale at the Dragons," said Tovey. "I wasn't really pushed out of my comfort zone. Coming here it's a new, fresh start and you can see how hard they are pushing us in pre-season.

"I've had to come out of my comfort zone and work hard. I think I suffered a bit of lack of form last season. We weren't playing well at the time and you could see that with all of the boys' performances.

"But this is a fresh start and a new era for me. Cardiff Blues are a massive club and if we can win a lot of games then hopefully it can push me on further to international honours."

Tovey admitted the lure of the bigger side was too much and is hopeful consistently strong performances for the Blues could gain him a call up to the Wales' squad and earn his first international cap.

"I think I have taken a step up," he said. "When you look at the training facilities, you've got everything on site, everything we need. We are not travelling around looking for a place.

"The Dragons still weren't quite sure where they were going with that. That's basically what made my mind up. We've been in training now for nearly six weeks and I'm starting to get to know all the boys and become good mates with them.

"I will take it step by step and try to put in some of the performances I was producing 18 months ago. Success for me would be having a consistent season and just playing well all the way through and hopefully push into the international scene."

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